The Edge Class of Ships from Celebrity Cruises

Note: This is the first of two stories. This edition is about one of Celebrity’s innovative newer ships. The next Travel News column will be about our journey to Europe’s most northern point on board the same cruise ship.

It was our second day on board a three-week cruise. Dressed in black uniform slacks only with a short-sleeved white shirt displaying the four bands of a captain on the shoulders but without the uniform jacket, Captain Nikolas Christodoulakis addressed his audience in the impressive multi-story Eden Bar on the far aft of the Celebrity cruise ship, Apex. This whimsical venue, flanked by giant windows on three sides, offered a wide view of the ship’s wake in the surrounding ocean. He hailed the sky and ocean around him with one hand while holding his microphone in the other hand in this venue that changes from restaurant and bar to a lounge or coffee shop and entertainment center depending on the time of the day or evening. Celebrity describes this venue as “a space designed to awaken the senses with a focus on sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch.”

Obviously proud of his ship, the captain addressed passengers and officers, explaining how he and his crew planned to make the sailing a memorable success for everyone on board. His style, we came to find out, was typical of this Greek national, who had already shaken hands and welcomed numerous passengers by name before addressing the crowd.

His approach to service and client satisfaction reminded me of my first days of cruising back in 1982, when the captains on most cruise ships were always out in public and interacting with guests on board. That trend slowly disappeared as the Master of the Vessel only became visible on formal nights and eventually, even that custom disappeared on many ships. Not so at Celebrity. In my experience with the line over many years, the captain and officers try to be available and visible on board as much as possible. It is a philosophy that dates back to the early 1970s when Greek shipping magnate, Antonio Chandris, converted from solely cargo business to cruising, and by 1976, built the largest cruise line in the world with thirteen ships. Today, the only reference to Mr. Chandris is the distinctive logo forming the smokestack in an “X.” It is the first letter of his name in the Greek alphabet. Our captain, Nikolas, was everywhere and at all times of the day, either alone or with several other officers.

Greeting passengers and answering questions about his ship or anything else one wanted to talk about, he had morning coffee at Café al Bacio in the Atrium along the Grand Plaza of the Apex and was visible during most shows and entertainment venues. He certainly took the legendary friendliness of the Celebrity crew to a new level, only excusing himself publicly when needed at certain times on the bridge.

A fleet of older ships and increased competition from newer cruise ships led Chandris to complete the rebuild of one of my favorite ships, the old Galileo, under the new name, Meridien. I sailed on her before and after and remember the beautiful woodwork, red carpets, cozy corners, and brass railings on the stairs when the “new” ship was proudly introduced. But the competition was too strong, and a more upscale line was formed under the name Celebrity Cruises. Management made the smart decision to position themselves at the base of the luxury market, a step above Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America, but less expensive than Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, and at the top, Silver Sea, Seabourn, and Ritz-Carlton ultra luxury yachts. In 1997, Mr. Chandris sold his company of thirteen ships to Royal Caribbean and three years later, the Millennium Class ships were introduced, followed by Solstice Class, including the lovely, upgraded Silhouette I wrote about last year (see Coastal Breeze News, June 6, 2024). And in 2018, the newest Edge Class ships introduced Infinite Veranda staterooms, and the Magic Carpet in the successful attempt to not enclose their ships as an entity sailing on the seas but devising their ships to reach out to the sea, with numerous open spaces and huge windows allowing passengers to enjoy the beautiful ocean from different angles.

As a separate entity within the Royal Caribbean Group, they did not follow the trend of building larger ships like the parent company but stopped at a capacity of about 3,200 passengers. Our ship is just over a thousand feet in length, has a gross tonnage of 130,818, 128 beam, and a draft of 28 feet.

With over 1,320 crew members, the crew-to-passenger ratio is impressive. The size of the ship, in combination with these stats, guarantees a very comfortable experience for everyone. We rarely saw lines anywhere in the three weeks on board. The Bridge and Engine Room feature an ultra-modern look and diesel-electric propulsion systems operating two propellers, so-called ABB Azipods, that can rotate and offer ultimate flexibility. The ship can be maneuvered not only from the main area of the Bridge but also from overhanging glass sides on either side of the Bridge.

The Infinite Veranda staterooms are designed with the same intention. Simply pushing a button controls a balcony space that can be converted into an extended cabin. The cabin with window can be opened halfway, providing the balcony experience, or closed, thus making the living room larger. An electric curtain that can be brought down at night for total darkness.

The bright orange open-air Magic Carpet, virtually hanging on the starboard side of the ship, is another innovation on the Edge Class ships and unique in the cruise world. It is a bar that can also be used for tender boarding and moves up and down between decks two and sixteen, depending on the functions held here.

There are twenty-nine restaurants, bars, and lounges on the Apex. Two exclusive restaurants for the highest category staterooms on board, “The Retreat and Aqua Class.” There are four very different main restaurants, all included and accessible to all. Although the ship was fully booked and I did see beepers for short table waits, we ate several times in every restaurant without reservations and never had to wait. The level of service was quite satisfactory most of the time and the food, although not gourmet, was certainly quite good. Lastly, there are seven specialty restaurants at an extra charge that seem overpriced for what is offered compared to the “included” dining. Advance specialty dining packages are available with discounts on board.

Considering my personal preferences, entertainment on board could not compare to what was offered on our Transatlantic cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette last year. However, I stress that it is my opinion. The lighting effects at shows and performances were truly spectacular on this new ship, but performances seemed to rely too much on that lighting. Several individual entertainers in the Grand Plaza and in the Eden Lounge did not dress up at all, showing up in faded jeans and sneakers. The Martini Bar kept up the great Celebrity tradition of fabulous service, and the staff were amusing comedians as well as bartenders.

The juggling bottle show Celebrity is famous for is performed here with special non-breakable bottles, whereas at the Martinia Bar on the Silhouette, real glass bottles were used to perform. At the new Craft Social Bar, the bartenders gladly introduce passengers to new drinks and add imaginative garnishes to embellish their creations. Aft of the Apex is a wonderful setting for watching the sunset at the open-air appropriately named “Sunset Bar” with a country club atmosphere. And if there is a day of inclement weather, there is the Solarium Pool under a large dome cover with huge side windows and comfortable reclining lounge chairs recreating an outside feeling. Even jacuzzies are available here and since the area is open most of the time to adults only, it can be a wonderful place to relax and get ready for another great day or evening on the Celebrity Apex.

The Apex features fabulous designs and whimsical sculptured statues on all public desks, with quirky seat arrangements, unique feather trees, and a brilliantly lit stone form collection walkway. The Rooftop Garden is another area decorated with lots of greenery, both real and artificial, surrounding a bar and grill.

Make sure to see my next Travel News column to discover what Captain Nikolas and his officers did to make our voyage to Europe’s most northern point unforgettable.